Of Interest

Screening of "Son of Crimea"

Screening of the documentary "Son of Crimea: Struggle of A People" is scheduled for 28 March 2015 at the George Mason University, Arlington, VA. Parts 4 and 5 of the documentary that relate to Soviet human rights activist Petro Grigorenko will be shown
along with another documentary in the making. Titled "Maidan, Petro Grigorenko and Crimean Tatar Dissidents," the program is organized by the Arlington Sister City Association, in cooperation with the International Committee for Crimea, Inc. and the Embassy of Ukraine.
For more information, see the Flyer.

Nowruz Celebration in Washingon, DC

International Committee for Crimea, Inc. was invited to the Nowruz Commission's Gala by the Embassy of Ukraine. We helped the Embassy staff organize a cultural exhibit of Crimean Tatar arts and crafts.
Ukrainian Embassy participates in Nowruz Commission's events because of Crimean Tatars, the largest minority group in Ukraine who observe Nowruz. The festive event was held on 14 March 2015 in the Andrew Mellon Auditorium, Washington, DC.
For related photos, see ICC's Picasa Web Album "Nowruz Commission's Gala."

Nowruz Celebration in DC

A Timeline of Human Rights Abuses in Crimea

It has been a year since Russian forces seized control of government facilities in Crimea and quickly moved to organize a questionable referendum that resulted in Russia's annexation of the peninsula in March 2014.
On the first anniversary of the occupation of Crimea by Russian forces, we offer a brief timeline, "Crimean Tatars under Russian Occupation and the Western Response." The list chronicles human rights violations, including harassment and deportation of activists,
exiling of Crimean Tatar leaders, intimidating members of the media, and illegal searches and confiscation of property. Such abuses did not go unnoticed, and various governmental bodies and human rights organizations in the West responded by issuing statements and reports,
documenting undue pressures exerted on the Crimean Tatar population.
See: "Crimean Tatars under Russian Occupation and the Western Response: A Timeline."

Crimean News Agency Denied License

The only independent news agency of Crimean Tatars in Crimea is targeted by the occupying Russian forces. Authorities have refused to renew the license of the Agency, also known as Qırım Haber Ajansı or QHA. See: Paul Goble's
Russian Occupation Authorities Move to Close Crimean News Agency,Window on Eurasia, 15 February 2015.

QHA Logo

Religious Freedom in Crimea

"Status of Religious Freedom in Crimea Today" by Catherine Cosman is an excellent summary of developments since the Russian occupation of the peninsula in March 2014.
The article details how the Russian law on extremism is affecting the Muslim population, namely Crimean Tatars, who have been subjected to numerous searches and confiscation of property.
Ms. Cosman is a Senior Policy Analyst at the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, Washington, DC.

Greta Uehling on Crimean Tatars

Greta Uehling's new publication, "Crimean Tatars as Victims of Communism," traces the history of the various forms of repression under Soviet regime, famines, collectivization, elimination of intellectuals, mass deportation and "Detatarization of Crimea.
The article helps us focus on the sufferings of Crimean Tatars prior to their return to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in Ukraine and their efforts to reestablish their lives in their homeland before the Russian occupation of the peninsula in February 2014.

Stairs made of grave markers

Dr. Uehling teaches at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and is the author of a major work on Crimean Tatars, Beyond Memory (2004). She is on the ICC Board of Members.

Ukrainian Embassy expresses solidarity

We greatly appreciate the support of the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington DC. On 23 September 2014, Ukrainian Embassy staff held the Crimean Tatar flag, expressing their solidarity with Crimean Tatars fighting for freedom.
They tweeted "I am Crimean Tatar" and "Crimea is Ukraine," inspired by Ukrainian President Victor Poroshenko's speech at the U.S. Congress, when he said "I am Crimean Tatar."

Ukrainian Staff, holding Crimean Tatar flag

Victims of Communism Memorial Anniversary

Once again, Crimean Tatars were represented at the wreath-laying ceremony at the Victims of Communism Memorial, Washington, DC, on June 11, 2014. The occasion marked the 7th anniversary of the unveiling of the Monument in 2007 and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

Flowers presented in memory of Crimean Tatars

During the ceremony, Myroslav Marynovych, a Ukrainian human rights advocate, received the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom. The other receipient, Mustafa Jemilev was unable to attend the ceremony. Ms. Lilia Muslimova, long-time secretary of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, delivered Mr. Jemilev's message.
Diplomats from foreign embassies, Members of United States Congress, representatives from nonprofit organizations and ethnic groups attended the event. Over forty wreaths, bouquets and floral arrangements adorned the Memorial at the end of the 2-hour ceremony. The ICC presented a basket of flowers in memory of Crimean Tatars, victimized by the Soviet authorities.

Amnesty International Report

Amnesty International issued its Public Statement on the harassment and violence against Crimean Tatars on May 23, 2014. "Despite assurances made by the de facto Crimean authorities to protect the rights of Tatars, since the annexation of the peninsula by Russia in March this year, the Tatar community has faced increasing violence and discrimination," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International Director for Europe and Central Asia.
The report is an excellent summary of human rights violations in Crimea, and it can be downloaded from the Amnesty's Web site.

"Son of Crimea" screened on May 18 and 22

In observance of the 70th anniversary of the Crimean Tatar deportation, the documentary "Son of Crimea: Struggle of a People" was screened at George Mason University, Arlington campus on May 18, 2014. The documentary tells the story of the Crimean Tatars' arduous journey during deportation, unsanitary conditions in cattle wagons used to transport them, and the misery awaiting the deportees in places of exile.
Ukrainian Embassador Olexander Motsyk attended the event and addressed the audience. Inci Bowman of the ICC introduced the film and Paul Goble provided the commentary following the screening. The event was organized by Arlington Sister City Association, Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine) Committee; in cooperation with International Committee for Crimea, Inc., and the Embassy of Ukraine, Washington, DC. A report produced by the Voice of America: Ukrainian Service is available at VOA News Website (in Ukrainian).

The May 22 screening of "Son of Crimea" was organized by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations in Washington DC, in cooperation with the ICC. Again, Inci Bowman introduced the film and handled the Q&A discussion.